U.S. patent application number 13/443464 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for sensor-based health monitoring system.
This patent application is currently assigned to EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC. Invention is credited to Hiroshi Goto.
Application Number | 20120197162 13/443464 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43731265 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120197162 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goto; Hiroshi |
August 2, 2012 |
Sensor-Based Health Monitoring System
Abstract
Implementations for sensor-based health monitoring systems are
generally disclosed.
Inventors: |
Goto; Hiroshi; (Ibaraki,
JP) |
Assignee: |
EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
LLC
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
43731265 |
Appl. No.: |
13/443464 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12559228 |
Sep 14, 2009 |
8172777 |
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13443464 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/595 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/0022 20130101;
A61B 5/002 20130101; A61B 5/1118 20130101; G16H 40/67 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/595 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/11 20060101
A61B005/11 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A sensor unit for detecting body motion, comprising: an elastic
member; one or more elements configured to detect deformation,
attached to the elastic member; a data processor configured to
measure output of the elements configured to detect deformation;
and a communication device configured to send out the output
measured by the data processor.
15. A sensor unit as recited in claim 14, further comprising a
weight attached at an extremity of the elastic member.
16. A sensor unit as recited in claim 15, wherein the elastic
member has the shape of an elongate stick.
17. A sensor unit as recited in claim 16, wherein the element
configured to detect deformation includes a piezo-element, and the
piezo-element is attached to a root part of the elastic member.
18. A sensor unit as recited in claim 17, wherein the elastic
member, the elements configured to detect deformation, the data
processor, and the communication device are packaged in a
cylindrical housing.
19-20. (canceled)
21. A sensor unit for detecting body motion, comprising: an elastic
member substantially shaped as an elongate stick adapted to be
attached to or worn by a user; one or more elements configured to
detect deformation, attached to the elastic member; a data
processor configured to measure output of the elements configured
to detect deformation; and a communication device configured to
send out the output measured by the data processor.
22. A sensor unit as recited in claim 21, further comprising a
weight attached at an extremity of the elastic member.
23. A sensor unit as recited in claim 22, wherein the element
configured to detect deformation includes a piezo-element, and the
piezo-element is attached to a root part of the elastic member.
24. A sensor unit as recited in claim 23, wherein the elastic
member, the elements configured to detect deformation, the data
processor, and the communication device are packaged in a
cylindrical housing.
25. A sensor unit for detecting body motion, comprising: an elastic
member formed of a thin deformable metal; one or more elements
configured to detect deformation, attached to the elastic member; a
data processor configured to measure output of the elements
configured to detect deformation; and a communication device
configured to send out the output measured by the data
processor.
26. A sensor unit as recited in claim 25, wherein the elastic
member has the shape of an elongate stick.
27. A sensor unit as recited in claim 26, wherein the elastic
member is adapted to be attached to or worn by a user.
28. A sensor unit as recited in claim 27, wherein the elastic
member comprises stainless steel.
29. A sensor unit as recited in claim 28, further comprising a
weight attached at an extremity of the elastic member.
30. A sensor unit as recited in claim 29, wherein the element
configured to detect deformation includes a piezo-element, and the
piezo-element is attached to a root part of the elastic member.
31. A sensor unit as recited in claim 30, wherein the elastic
member, the elements configured to detect deformation, the data
processor, and the communication device are packaged in a
cylindrical housing.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In a society that may have an increasing proportion of aging
individuals or that may have an increasing proportion of single
person families, many individuals may be living alone. In such a
society, it may be useful to establish an enhanced infrastructure
for managing the health for such individuals, and for taking
appropriate care of urgent cases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] Subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly
claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The
foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become
more fully apparent from the following description and appended
claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments
in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be
considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described
with additional specificity and detail through use of the
accompanying drawings.
[0003] In the drawings:
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an example health monitoring
system that may be arranged to monitor a user;
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example sensor
unit that may be arranged to monitor a user;
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective diagram of an example
sensor that may be arranged to monitor a user;
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example alarm
unit;
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates an example process for sensor-based
health monitoring;
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates an example computer program product;
and
[0010] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing
device, all arranged in accordance with the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The following description sets forth various examples along
with specific details to provide a thorough understanding of
claimed subject matter. It will be understood by those skilled in
the art, however, that claimed subject matter may be practiced
without some or more of the specific details disclosed herein.
Further, in some circumstances, well-known methods, procedures,
systems, components and/or circuits have not been described in
detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring claimed subject
matter. In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood
that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described
herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged,
substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make
part of this disclosure.
[0012] This disclosure is drawn, inter alia, to methods, apparatus,
systems and/or computer program products related to sensor-based
health monitoring systems.
[0013] The long-term continuous measurement of physiological data
may be utilized to detect abnormal situations in individuals. In
some instances, physiological monitoring methods may relate to the
heart rate, electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography
(ECG), body temperature, or oxygen density in blood. However, such
physiological monitoring methods may not be convenient for
long-term measurements. For example, ECG measurements may need
electrodes to be pasted on the skin, which may reduce the
suitability of ECG for long-term uses. As will be described in
greater detail below, a health monitoring system may be configured
to monitor body motion of a user, which may be suitable for
long-term uses, for example.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example health monitoring system 100
that may be arranged to monitor a user, in accordance with at least
some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated
example, the health monitoring system 100 may include a sensor unit
102 that may be configured to detect body motion of a user (not
shown).
[0015] The health monitoring system 100 may also include an alarm
unit 104 that may be configured to analyze body motion data
received from the sensor unit 102 to execute a series of alarm
processing operations. For example, the alarm unit 104 may be
configured to execute a series of alarm processing operations in
response to the detection of body motion data from the sensor
unit.
[0016] Such a health monitoring system 100, including the sensor
unit 102 and the alarm unit 104, may monitor body motion of a user,
detect abnormalities of such a user by analyzing body motion data,
and/or execute a series of alarm processes in response to the
detection of such abnormalities. Such operations will be described
in greater detail below.
[0017] The alarm unit 104 may be configured to communicate with one
or more remote site, such as a home 106, a hospital 108, the like,
or combinations thereof. For example, the home 106 may be the home
of a relative of the user.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example sensor
unit 102 that may be arranged to monitor a user, in accordance with
at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the
illustrated example, the sensor unit 102 may include a sensor 202.
In some examples, the sensor unit 102 may be adapted to be attached
to or worn by a user (not shown). For example, the sensor unit 102
may be put into a pocket of the clothing of a user, attached to a
belt, or embedded in a finger ring, a bracelet, or the like for
convenience of carrying such a sensor unit 102 by a user. In other
examples, the sensor unit 102 may be used for a pet, animal, or the
like. In such a case, the sensor unit 102 may be embedded in a
collar, a bracelet, a tag, or the like.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective diagram of an example
sensor 202 that may be arranged to monitor a user, in accordance
with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the
illustrated example, the sensor 202 may include an elastic member
302. The elastic member 302 may be configured to deform in response
to motion of a user (not shown). In one example, the elastic member
302 may have the shape of an elongate stick. The elastic member 302
may be formed from a thin deformable metal, such as stainless steel
or the like.
[0020] Additionally or alternatively, a weight (not shown) may be
attached at an extremity 308 of the elastic member 302. For
example, such a weight may be attached at the extremity 308 of the
elastic member 302 to increase inertia, which may result in the
elastic member 302 being deformed more responsible to the body
motion of a user.
[0021] The sensor 202 may also include one or more elements 304
configured to detect deformation. Such elements 304 configured to
detect deformation may be attached to the elastic member 302. In
one example, the element 304 configured to detect deformation may
include one or more piezo-elements. For example, such a
piezo-element-type element 304 may be attached to a root part 310
of the elastic member 302.
[0022] Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 202 may include an
acceleration-type sensor or a vibration-type sensor. Such an
acceleration-type sensor or vibration-type sensor may be used in
addition to or in place of the elastic member 302 and elements 304
configured to detect deformation described above.
[0023] In operation, in cases where the sensor unit 102 is moved by
body motion of a user, the elastic member 302 may be bent by force
of inertia. Such a bending of the elastic member 302 by force of
inertia may in turn cause deformation of the elements 304
configured to detect deformation. For example, piezo-element-type
element 304 configured to detect deformation may generate voltage
that may be detected or measured in order to monitor such body
motion of a user.
[0024] The sensor 202 may also include a housing 306 configured to
house the elastic member 302, the elements 304 configured to detect
deformation, and/or other elements of sensor unit 102 (FIG. 2). For
example, the housing 306 may be configured to house the elastic
member 302, the elements 304 configured to detect deformation, data
processor 204 (FIG. 2), and communication device 208 (FIG. 2) of
sensor unit 102 (FIG. 2). In one example the housing 306 may have a
cylindrical type shape.
[0025] Referring back to FIG. 2, the sensor unit 102 may also
include a data processor 204 operably coupled to sensor 202. The
data processor 204 may be configured to measure the output of the
elements 304 (FIG. 3) configured to detect deformation. In one
example, the data processor 204 may be configured to process the
output signals from the sensor 202, and calculate data such as
frequency and/or amplitude (e.g. power) based at least in part on
the output signals from the sensor 202. Such calculated data, such
as frequency and/or amplitude, may be stored in memory 206.
[0026] The sensor unit 102 may also include a communication device
208 operably coupled to the data processor 204. The communication
device 208 may be configured to send results measured by the data
processor 204 to the alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1). In one example, the
communication device 208 may include a short range communicator
configured to transmit data to the alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1). For
example, the communication device 208 may include a Bluetooth-type
short range communicator or the like.
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example alarm
unit 104, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the
present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the alarm unit 104
may include a communication device 402. The communication device
402 may be configured to receive data from the sensor unit 102
(FIG. 1). In one example, the communication device 402 may include
a short range communicator configured to receive data from the
sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1). For example, the communication device 402
may include a Bluetooth-type short range communicator or the
like.
[0028] The alarm unit 104 may include an abnormality detector 404
operably coupled to communication device 402. The abnormality
detector 404 may be configured to detect an abnormality based at
least in part on an analysis of the detection of body motion data
from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) in accordance with at least one
preprogrammed rule 406. Additionally, such an analysis of the
detection of body motion data in accordance with the preprogrammed
rules 406 may be based at least in part on one or more threshold
values and/or previous data 408. Such rules 406, threshold values,
and/or previous data 408 may be stored in a memory 410 that may be
operatively associated with abnormality detector 404.
[0029] In one example, the abnormality detector 404 may be
configured to change a criteria for judgment under one or more
preprogrammed rules 406 based at least in part on the current clock
time. For example, at night time, since the user may be in sleep,
the abnormality detector 404 may be configured not to determine
abnormality, even if the amplitude (e.g. power) of the body motion
data from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) is very low.
[0030] The abnormality detector 404 may be configured to determine
such an abnormality based at least in part on a calculated
frequency of the body motion data from the sensor unit 102 (FIG.
1). Additionally or alternatively, the abnormality detector 404 may
be configured to determine such an abnormality based at least in
part on a amplitude (e.g. power) of the body motion data from the
sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1).
[0031] In one example, the abnormality detector 404 may be
configured to determine such an abnormality based at least in part
on an amplitude of signals from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) during
a predetermined period being lower than a predetermined value. For
example, when the received body motion data (e.g. amplitude of
signals) is relatively low (e.g. zero or near zero) for several
minutes, such received body motion data may indicate that the user
has not moved for several minutes. In this case, since there is a
possibility of the user being down, the abnormality detector 404
may determine that an abnormality of the user has occurred.
[0032] In another example, the abnormality detector 404 may be
configured to determine such an abnormality based at least in part
on an amplitude of signals from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) during
a predetermined period being higher than a predetermined value. For
example, when the received body motion data (e.g. amplitude of
signals) is relatively high, especially if the received body motion
data appears at a specific frequency, such received body motion
data may indicate that the user is moving quickly and violently. In
this case, since there is a possibility of the user being in a
severe spasm, an epileptic fit, struggling to manage his/her pain,
or the like, the abnormality detector 404 may determine an
abnormality of the user has occurred.
[0033] Additionally or alternatively, the abnormality detector 404
may use corresponding previous data 408 as a basis for analysis.
For example, the abnormality detector 404 may be configured to
determine an abnormality based at least in part on a difference
between an amplitude of signals from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1)
during a predetermined period and corresponding previous data 408
being higher than a predetermined value. In this case, the
abnormality detector 404 may detect that the activities of the user
may be different than usual in some significant way. The alarm unit
104 may store the received body motion data as previous data 408 in
the memory 410, and such previous data 408 may be associated with a
time that the body motion data was received. For example, the alarm
unit 104 may calculate and store an average of the body motion data
for a given time of day (such as an average over a period of an
hour at a specific time of day or night) as previous data 408.
Accordingly, the abnormality detector 404 may be configured to
determine an abnormality based at least in part on a difference
between an amplitude of signals from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1)
at a given time of day and previous data 408 corresponding to such
a given time of day being higher than a predetermined value.
[0034] The alarm unit 104 may further include an alarm generator
412 operably coupled to the abnormality detector 404. The alarm
generator 412 may be configured to output an alarm notification in
cases where an abnormality is detected by abnormality detector 404.
In one example, the alarm generator 412 may be configured to send
an alarm message or an automatic call 414 to one or more
predetermined sites (not shown) to notify an alarm on condition
that the abnormality detector 404 has determined an abnormality.
Such predetermined sites (not shown) may include remote sites, such
as the home 106 (FIG. 1) (such as a home of a family member or
another emergency contact person), the hospital 108 (FIG. 1), a
healthcare service company, some other registered destination, the
like, or combinations thereof. Destination data 416 regarding such
predetermined sites (not shown) and/or the alarm message or the
automatic call 414 may be stored in memory 418, which may be
separate from memory 410 or integrated with memory 410. The alarm
generator 412 may be configured to establish a connection with the
Internet, a landline telephone network, a wireless telephone
network, the like, or combinations thereof. The alarm generator 412
may be configured to make automatic calls using a computer
synthesized voice.
[0035] The alarm unit 104 may include one or more output devices
420 operably coupled to the alarm unit 104. Such output devices 420
may include a speaker, a lamp, a vibrator, the like, or
combinations thereof that may be configured to notify an alarm to
the user or other person in the vicinity of the health monitoring
system 100 (FIG. 1). Additionally, the alarm unit 104 may include a
user interface (not shown) (e.g., one or more touch input devices,
voice input devices, etc.) configured to permit a user or other
person to acknowledge, disable, or reset such an alarm on the alarm
unit 104. Such an alarm acknowledgement, disabling, or resetting
may reduce or prevent the sending of an unnecessary message to a
remote site. For example, the alarm generator 412 may be configured
to execute a first alarm process on condition that the abnormality
detector 404 determines an abnormality, and the alarm generator 412
(FIG. 4) may further be configured to execute a second alarm
process on condition of receiving no response to the first alarm.
In such an example, a first alarm process may be to notify the
abnormality via the one or more output devices 420 connected to the
alarm unit 104, and a second alarm process may be to send an alarm
message to a remote site, such as a home 106 (FIG. 1), a hospital
108 (FIG. 1), the like, or a combination thereof. For example, when
an abnormality is detected, the alarm generator 412 may at first
notify the user of the abnormality being detected. Then, if no
operation is conducted to disable such an alarm within a
predetermined time period, the alarm generator 412 may send an
alarm message to a remote site.
[0036] In another example, such a first alarm process may be to
send an alarm message to a first place and the second alarm process
may be to send an alarm message to a second place. For example, the
alarm generator 412 may be configured to send an alarm message to
the first place, e.g., such as a home 106 (FIG. 1) of a family
member, at first. Then, if no response is received from the first
place within a predetermined time period, the alarm generator 412
may send an alarm message to the second place, e.g., such as
hospital 108 (FIG. 1). In this example, when there is no alarm
acknowledgement, disabling, or resetting at the first place, the
second place may receive an alarm message, such as medical doctor
or a service company that may take care of this situation
instead.
[0037] In a further example, the abnormality detector 404 may be
configured to determine a level of abnormality, and the alarm
generator 412 may be configured to change a manner of making an
alarm consistent with such a level of abnormality. Such a level of
abnormality may be set at various levels, such as low abnormality,
medium abnormality, high abnormality, or the like. For example, the
alarm generator 412 may be configured to change the destination to
send an alarm message to, in accordance with the level of an
abnormality. In such a case, if the abnormality detector 404
determines that the level of abnormality is low, the alarm
generator 412 may only activate the alarm facility on the alarm
unit 104 or may only send out an alarm message. In such a case, if
the abnormality detector 404 determines that the level of
abnormality is medium, the alarm generator 412 may be configured to
make an automatic call to user's family, as the user may not be
aware of the message. If the abnormality detector 404 determines
that the level of abnormality is high, the alarm generator 412 may
directly contact the hospital or the service company that may have
an ability to take care of such high abnormality matters.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates an example process 500 for sensor-based
health monitoring, in accordance with at least some embodiments of
the present disclosure. Process 500, and other processes described
herein, set forth various functional blocks or actions that may be
described as processing steps, functional operations, events and/or
acts, etc., which may be performed by hardware, software, and/or
firmware. Those skilled in the art in light of the present
disclosure will recognize that numerous alternatives to the
functional blocks shown in FIG. 5 may be practiced in various
implementations. For example, although process 500, as shown in
FIG. 5, comprises one particular order of blocks or actions, the
order in which these blocks or actions are presented does not
necessarily limit claimed subject matter to any particular order.
Likewise, intervening actions not shown in FIG. 5 and/or additional
actions not shown in FIG. 5 may be employed and/or some of the
actions shown in FIG. 5 may be eliminated, without departing from
the scope of claimed subject matter. Process 500 may include one or
more of operations 502, 504, 506, 508, 509, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518
and/or 520.
[0039] As illustrated, process 500 may be implemented for
sensor-based health monitoring of one or more users. Process 500
may begin at start block 502 and proceed to operation 504. At
operation 504, body motion of a user (not shown) may be detected or
monitored. For example, the body motion of a user may be detected
or monitored via sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring
system 100 (FIG. 1).
[0040] As will be described in greater detail below with respect to
operations 506-518 preprogrammed rules may be implemented by an
analysis of data regarding body motion to detect abnormalities. For
example, data regarding body motion received from the sensor unit
102 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system 100 (FIG. 1) may be
analyzed via alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system
100 (FIG. 1) according to preprogrammed rules.
[0041] At operation 506, a current clock time may be checked. For
example, the current clock time may be checked via alarm unit 104
(FIG. 1) of health monitoring system 100 (FIG. 1).
[0042] At operation 508, one or more threshold values may be set in
response to the current clock time. For example, such threshold
values may be set via alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring
system 100 (FIG. 1). In one example, the abnormality detector 404
(FIG. 4) of alarm unit 104 (FIG. 4) may set the one or more
threshold values in response to the current clock time. For
example, the abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) may be configured to
change a criteria for judgment under one or more preprogrammed
rules based at least in part on the current clock time.
[0043] At operation 510, process 500 may determine whether the data
regarding body motion is less than the one or more threshold
values. Process 500 continues from decision operation 510 to
operation 516 the data regarding body motion is less than the one
or more threshold values. Otherwise, process 500 may continue from
decision operation 510 to operation 512 when the data regarding
body motion is not less than the one or more threshold values. For
example, such a determination of whether the data regarding body
motion is less than the one or more threshold values may be
determined via alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system
100 (FIG. 1). In one example, the abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4)
of alarm unit 104 (FIG. 4) may determine whether the data regarding
body motion is less than the one or more threshold values. For
example, the abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) may be configured to
determine an abnormality based at least in part on an amplitude of
signals from the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) during a predetermined
period being lower than a predetermined threshold value.
[0044] At operation 512, process 500 may determine whether the data
regarding body motion is greater than the one or more threshold
values. The threshold values at operation 512 are generally greater
than the threshold values at operation 510. Process 500 continues
from decision operation 512 to operation 516 when the data
regarding body motion is greater than the one or more threshold
values. Otherwise, process 500 may continue from decision operation
512 to operation 514 when the data regarding body motion is not
greater than the one or more threshold values. For example, such a
determination of whether the data regarding body motion is greater
than the one or more threshold values may be determined via alarm
unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system 100 (FIG. 1). In one
example, the abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) of alarm unit 104
(FIG. 4) may determine whether the data regarding body motion is
greater than the one or more threshold values. For example, the
abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) may be configured to determine an
abnormality based at least in part on an amplitude of signals from
the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) during a predetermined period being
higher than a predetermined threshold value.
[0045] At operation 514, process 500 may determine whether the data
regarding body motion is not equal or not approximately equal to
previous data regarding body motion. Process 500 continues from
decision operation 514 to operation 516 when the data regarding
body motion is not equal or not approximately equal to previous
data regarding body motion. Otherwise, process 500 may continue
from decision operation 514 to operation 504 when the data
regarding body motion is equal or approximately equal to previous
data regarding body motion. For example, such a determination of
whether the data regarding body motion is not equal or not
approximately equal to previous data regarding body motion may be
determined via alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system
100 (FIG. 1). In one example, the abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4)
of alarm unit 104 (FIG. 4) may determine whether the data regarding
body motion is not equal or not approximately equal to previous
data regarding body motion. For example, the abnormality detector
404 (FIG. 4) may be configured to determine an abnormality based at
least in part on a difference between an amplitude of signals from
the sensor unit 102 (FIG. 1) during a predetermined period and
corresponding data in the past being higher than a predetermined
value.
[0046] Operations 510, 512, and 514 may be utilized singly or in
various combinations with one another to determine one or more
abnormalities. For example, only operation 510, only operation 512,
or only operation 514 may be utilized to determine an abnormality.
Alternatively, operation 510, operation 512, and operation 514 may
be utilized in various combinations with one another to determine
one or more abnormalities.
[0047] At operation 516, a level of abnormality may be set. For
example the level of abnormality may be set at various levels, such
as low abnormality, medium abnormality, or high abnormality, via
alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system 100 (FIG. 1).
In one example, the abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) of alarm unit
104 (FIG. 4) may be configured to determine a level of abnormality.
Additionally, the alarm generator 412 (FIG. 4) may be configured to
change a manner of making an alarm based at least in part on the
determined level of abnormality.
[0048] At operation 518, in cases where an abnormality is
determined, a series of one or more alarm process operations may be
conducted in response to the determined abnormality. For example
the series of one or more alarm process operations may be conducted
via alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) of health monitoring system 100 (FIG.
1). In one example, the alarm generator 412 (FIG. 4) of alarm unit
104 (FIG. 1) may be configured to send or call to one or more
predetermined sites to notify an alarm on condition that the
abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) determines an abnormality.
Process 500 may then proceed to end block 520.
[0049] In one example, the alarm generator 412 (FIG. 4) may be
configured to execute a first alarm process on condition that the
abnormality detector 404 (FIG. 4) determines an abnormality, and
the alarm generator 412 (FIG. 4) may further be configured to
execute a second alarm process on condition of receiving no
response to the first alarm. For example, such a first alarm
process may be to notify the abnormality via one or more output
devices 420 (FIG. 4) connected to the alarm unit alarm unit 104
(FIG. 1), and such a second alarm process may be to send an alarm
message to a remote site, such as a home 106 (FIG. 1), a hospital
108 (FIG. 1), the like, or a combination thereof. Additionally or
alternatively, such a first alarm process may be to send an alarm
message to a first place, e.g., such as a home 106 (FIG. 1), and
the second alarm process may be to send an alarm message to a
second place, e.g., such as hospital 108 (FIG. 1).
[0050] In operation, in operation process 500 may operate so that
an alarm message or call may be sent to a registered destination
via the alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1).
[0051] In a further example, process 500 may operate so that a
beep-type alarm, a light-type alarm, a vibration-type alarm, the
like, or combinations thereof may be activated via the alarm unit
104 (FIG. 1). If such an alarm is not disabled, an alarm message or
call may be sent to a registered destination via the alarm unit 104
(FIG. 1).
[0052] In a still further example, process 500 may operate so that
a call may be placed to a family member or the like via the alarm
unit 104 (FIG. 1). If no response is received from such a call, an
alarm message or call may be sent to a hospital 108 (FIG. 1) or the
like via the alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1).
[0053] In another example, process 500 may operate so that a level
of abnormality may be checked. In cases where the level of
abnormality is low a beep-type alarm, a light-type alarm, a
vibration-type alarm, the like, or combinations thereof may be
activated via the alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1), for example. In cases
where the level of abnormality is medium a call may be placed to a
family member or the like via the alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1). In cases
where the level of abnormality is high a call may be placed to a
hospital 108 (FIG. 1) or the like via the alarm unit 104 (FIG.
1).
[0054] FIG. 6 illustrates an example computer program product 600
that is arranged in accordance with the present disclosure. Program
product 600 may include a signal bearing medium 602. Signal bearing
medium 602 may include one or more machine-readable instructions
604, which, if executed by one or more processors, may operatively
enable a computing device to provide the functionality described
above with respect to FIG. 5. Thus, for example, referring to the
system of FIG. 1, health monitoring system 100, sensor unit 102,
and/or alarm unit 104 may undertake one or more of the actions
shown in FIG. 5 in response to instructions 604 conveyed by medium
602.
[0055] In some implementations, signal bearing medium 602 may
encompass a computer-readable medium 606, such as, but not limited
to, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile
Disk (DVD), a digital tape, memory, etc. In some implementations,
signal bearing medium 602 may encompass a recordable medium 608,
such as, but not limited to, memory, read/write (R/W) CDs, R/W
DVDs, etc. In some implementations, signal bearing medium 602 may
encompass a communications medium 610, such as, but not limited to,
a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber
optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless
communication link, etc.).
[0056] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing
device 700 that is arranged in accordance with the present
disclosure. In one example configuration 701, computing device 700
may include one or more processors 710 and system memory 720. A
memory bus 730 can be used for communicating between the processor
710 and the system memory 720.
[0057] Depending on the desired configuration, processor 710 may be
of any type including but not limited to a microprocessor (.mu.P),
a microcontroller (.mu.C), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any
combination thereof. Processor 710 can include one or more levels
of caching, such as a level one cache 711 and a level two cache
712, a processor core 713, and registers 714. The processor core
713 can include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point
unit (FPU), a digital signal processing core (DSP Core), or any
combination thereof. A memory controller 715 can also be used with
the processor 710, or in some implementations the memory controller
715 can be an internal part of the processor 710.
[0058] Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory
720 may be of any type including but not limited to volatile memory
(such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory,
etc.) or any combination thereof. System memory 720 may include an
operating system 721, one or more applications 722, and program
data 724. Application 722 may include a health monitoring algorithm
723 in a health monitoring system 100, sensor unit 102, and/or
alarm unit 104 (FIG. 1) that is arranged to perform the functions
and/or operations as described herein including the functional
blocks and/or operations described with respect to process 500 of
FIG. 5. Program Data 724 may include body motion data 725 for use
in health monitoring algorithm 723. In some example embodiments,
application 722 may be arranged to operate with program data 724 on
an operating system 721 such that implementations of mobile
sampling may be provided as described herein. This described basic
configuration is illustrated in FIG. 7 by those components within
dashed line 701.
[0059] Computing device 700 may have additional features or
functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate
communications between the basic configuration 701 and any required
devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller 740
may be used to facilitate communications between the basic
configuration 701 and one or more data storage devices 750 via a
storage interface bus 741. The data storage devices 750 may be
removable storage devices 751, non-removable storage devices 752,
or a combination thereof. Examples of removable storage and
non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices such as
flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDD), optical disk
drives such as compact disk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk
(DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSD), and tape drives to name a
few. Example computer storage media may include volatile and
nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any
method or technology for storage of information, such as computer
readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other
data.
[0060] System memory 720, removable storage 751 and non-removable
storage 752 are all examples of computer storage media. Computer
storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM,
flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile
disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic
tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or
any other medium which may be used to store the desired information
and which may be accessed by computing device 700. Any such
computer storage media may be part of device 700.
[0061] Computing device 700 may also include an interface bus 742
for facilitating communication from various interface devices
(e.g., output interfaces, peripheral interfaces, and communication
interfaces) to the basic configuration 701 via the bus/interface
controller 740. Example output interfaces 760 may include a
graphics processing unit 761 and an audio processing unit 762,
which may be configured to communicate to various external devices
such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports 763.
Example peripheral interfaces 760 may include a serial interface
controller 771 or a parallel interface controller 772, which may be
configured to communicate with external devices such as input
devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch
input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer,
scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 773. An example
communication interface 780 includes a network controller 781,
which may be arranged to facilitate communications with one or more
other computing devices 790 over a network communication via one or
more communication ports 782. A communication connection is one
example of a communication media. Communication media may typically
be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures,
program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as
a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any
information delivery media. A "modulated data signal" may be a
signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed
in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of
example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired
media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and
wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared
(IR) and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as
used herein may include both storage media and communication
media.
[0062] Computing device 700 may be implemented as a portion of a
small-form factor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a
cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a personal media
player device, a wireless web-watch device, a personal headset
device, an application specific device, or a hybrid device that
includes any of the above functions. Computing device 700 may also
be implemented as a personal computer including both laptop
computer and non-laptop computer configurations. In addition,
computing device 700 may be implemented as part of a wireless base
station or other wireless system or device.
[0063] Some portions of the foregoing detailed description are
presented in terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of
operations on data bits or binary digital signals stored within a
computing system memory, such as a computer memory. These
algorithmic descriptions or representations are examples of
techniques used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing
arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the
art. An algorithm is here, and generally, is considered to be a
self-consistent sequence of operations or similar processing
leading to a desired result. In this context, operations or
processing involve physical manipulation of physical quantities.
Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities may take the
form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,
transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. It has
proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common
usage, to refer to such signals as bits, data, values, elements,
symbols, characters, terms, numbers, numerals or the like. It
should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms
are to be associated with appropriate physical quantities and are
merely convenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as
apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that
throughout this specification discussions utilizing terms such as
"processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining" or the like
refer to actions or processes of a computing device, that
manipulates or transforms data represented as physical electronic
or magnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other
information storage devices, transmission devices, or display
devices of the computing device.
[0064] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various
embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions
and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art
that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams,
flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or
collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or
virtually any combination thereof. In some embodiments, several
portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented
via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs),
or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in
whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated
circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more
computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more
processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination
thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code
for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of
one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the
subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as
a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative
embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies
regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to
actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing
medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable
type medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), a
Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a digital tape,
a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a
digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic
cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless
communication link, etc.).
[0065] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. It is to be understood that such depicted
architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other
architectures can be implemented which achieve the same
functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components
to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such
that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two
components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality
can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired
functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated
can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably
coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and
any two components capable of being so associated can also be
viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable
include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or
physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable
and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0066] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or
singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate
from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the
plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The
various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth
herein for sake of clarity.
[0067] It will be understood by those within the art that, in
general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims
(e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as
"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as
"including but not limited to," the term "having" should be
interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an
intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an
aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more"
to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any
particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least
one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or
"an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one
or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles
used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a
specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly
recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the
recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where
a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is
used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one
having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a
system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be
limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to
"at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a
construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art
would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least
one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that
have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,
B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that virtually any
disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative
terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be
understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the
terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase
"A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or
"B" or "A and B."
[0068] While certain exemplary techniques have been described and
shown herein using various methods and systems, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that various other
modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted,
without departing from claimed subject matter. Additionally, many
modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the
teachings of claimed subject matter without departing from the
central concept described herein. Therefore, it is intended that
claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular examples
disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter also may include
all implementations falling within the scope of the appended
claims, and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *